Tennis Legend Billie Jean King, Entrepreneur Seth Godin Headline 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders
December 18, 2018
Creating tension should be a key factor in developing compelling business events, said bestselling author and Marketing Hall of Fame honoree, Seth Godin.
Tension, he added, contributes to the fear of missing out, and that can create the buzz that helps make business events successful.
Godin will take participants at 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders on a journey that will have them wonder whether their events would be missed if they were gone.
His session, "You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See", is the first keynote address for Convening Leaders, taking place Jan. 6-9 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh.
Godin has a world-renowned blog and 18 bestselling books, including Purple Cow, which have been translated into more than 35 languages.
He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, leadership and most of all, changing everything.
He also has founded several companies, including Yoyodyne and Squidoo, and transformative online workshops altMBA and The Marketing Seminar.
Billie Jean King, equal rights champion and tennis legend, will also present a keynote session at "Disrupt & Deliver", the theme for 2019 Convening Leaders. Her appearance was arranged by SF Travel.
King joins the growing list of female industry experts speaking at 2019 PCMA Convening Leaders, an influential business events industry annual event. She was already a World No. 1 ranked tennis champion before her victory in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" match against top men's player Bobby Riggs, which cemented her legendary status for equal rights and social change.
King is the co-founder of the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative and the co-founder of World TeamTennis.
In 2014, King and her partner Ilana Kloss launched the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative to address inclusion and diversity issues in the workplace.
Life magazine named her among the "100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century and U.S. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 for her work in the social justice arena and sports accomplishments.
“We’re so excited to announce Seth Godin and one of my all-time idols, Billie Jean King, as Main Stage speakers at Convening Leaders 2019", said Sherrif Karamat, PCMA president and CEO. "Having such inspirational and world-renowned speakers for “Disrupt and Deliver” is testament to the hard work our team has put in to develop creative, compelling and relevant education sessions for the business events industry. Seth will inspire attendees to think outside the box when promoting their events and Billie Jean will offer insights into her outstanding career and advocacy for diversity and inclusion, a topic so close to my heart.”
King and Godin will join a growing list of industry experts and speakers at 2019 Convening Leaders speakers, including:
- Karamo Brown, activist and television personality, whose role as culture expert on Netflix’s “Queer Eye” series helps individuals boost their self-esteem and self-awareness.
- Lindsey Pollak, a New York Times bestselling author and advisor to young professionals on how to navigate multi-generational workplaces.
- Anka Wittenberg, an economist and global diversity and inclusion thought leader.
- Peter Sheahan, founder of Karrikins Group, a global behavior change company.
- Molly Breazeale, founder of AlignED, which helps business leaders create safe, open workplaces.
- Rohit Bhargava, author and founder of Non-Obvious Co., which helps businesses identify new opportunities and implement smart ideas.
Content at Convening Leaders 2019 comes under nine theme tracks to educate and inspire attendees on the most debated industry topics such as diversity and inclusion; event strategy and design; innovation; leadership; audience engagement and acquisition.
"Disrupt & Deliver" also offers many networking opportunities including hackathons for participants to build lasting professional and personal relationships.
For more information on Main Stage keynote speakers’ sessions and other sessions, visit conveningleaders.org.
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is on track to spend at least 15% of its biddable procurement with diverse-owned businesses by 2025, demonstrating that supplier diversity is not only a social responsibility but also a strategic business imperative.
Supplier diversity isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s good for business. A diverse supply chain allows access to a broader range of perspectives and experience, helping to drive innovation, entrepreneurship and resilience, while strengthening communities. At MGM Resorts, engaging diverse suppliers ensures best-in-class experiences for guests and clients. Supplier diversity ensures a more resilient supply chain while supporting economic development in the communities in which it operates.
The impact of MGM Resorts' supplier diversity initiatives is significant. In 2023, these efforts supported over 3,500 jobs across more than 30 states, contributed over $214 million in income for diverse-owned businesses and generated more than $62 million in tax revenue. The story extends beyond the numbers – it reflects the tangible benefits brought to small and diverse-owned businesses, fostering economic empowerment in their communities.
MGM Resorts also supports the development and business skills of diverse-owned businesses through investment, mentorship and education. Through the MGM Resorts Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program, the company identifies, mentors and develops diverse-owned businesses to fill its future pipeline, while providing businesses with tools and resources to empower and uplift. Since 2017, the program has successfully graduated 105 diverse-owned businesses and is on track to achieve its goal of 150 graduates by 2025.
MGM Resorts’ commitment to supplier diversity not only enhances its business operations but also plays a crucial role in uplifting communities and fostering economic development. This approach reinforces the idea that diversity is a powerful driver of innovation and resilience, benefiting both the company and the wider community.
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